Give Me Rest, Or Give Me Death

I'm sure somewhere in your life you heard the famous quote by Patrick Henry, "Give me liberty, or give me death."

Patrick Henry said this in a speech to the Virginia Convention which convinced the Virginian House of Burgesses to enter into the Revolutionary War. Sources say that the convention sat in silence for several minutes after Henry finished, momentarily stunned by his words. They meditated and they acted. 

I'm not as eloquent as Patrick Henry, but I had a profound moment this morning when I realized that after a long and weary week, I need rest. And it forced me to sit in silence, but it also called me to action. 

I'm learning more and more that rest is an active pursuit. You have to actively choose to rest. It's so easy to think, "I'll just keep pushing through. If only I get one more thing done. I can rest once all the things on my list are finished."

But God didn't make me to work constantly. He made me to work hard for His glory and then to humble myself and rest. 

Throughout the 31 day series that occurred last month, I shared that I'm really bad at resting. And the war continues. 

But sometimes, you come to a point where you have to surrender and actively choose to rest. 

Give me rest, or give me death.

This is my battle cry today. 

And even though there are things that I start working on or get done early, God is clearly calling me to honor him and to actively choose to rest. 

How are you doing with rest? Have you actively chosen to rest lately?